Longleaf Coffee to celebrate former theater owner's contribution,

July 27, 2011 at 2:27 a.m.

Rubin Frels enjoys a relaxing morning at the LongLeaf Coffee Co. on Main Street on Wednesday morning. In celebration of his life and long ties to Victoria, The LongLeaf has whipped up a Frelsburger in his honor.

THEATERS ONCE OWNED BY FRELS

ABOUT THE FRELSBURGER

Frelsburger Sauce was made, for decades, in the kitchen at the Lone Tree Drive In Theatre. Customers would go to the drive-in just to purchase the burgers.

In the 1970s it was decided to sell Frelsburgers at the Playhouse and Salem Six theaters. These paled in comparison to the originals prepared at the Drive In, but they still sold by the dozens each week.

The original Frelsburger was made on sesame seed buns, quarter pound patty (from Quality Packers), and a lot of chopped iceberg lettuce. The tomatoes and onions were in the sauce, along with healthy portions of sliced jalapenos - with the seeds.

Source: Gary Dunnam at Victoria Preservation Inc.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Rubin Frelsburger Night

WHERE: LongLeaf Coffee Co., 215 S. Main St.

WHEN: 5 p.m. - 8 p.m., Friday

COST: $8 for Frelsburger. Includes potato salad or chips and drink.

INFO: For more information call LongLeaf Coffee Co. at 361-578-7785. Seating is limited but there is no need to RSVP.

Dana Moore, who helps co-manage the coffee shop said she, her husband Jared, the co-manager, and her husband's in-laws, who own the coffee shop, had wanted to do something special for Frels for a while.

"We've grown to Rubin and Brad," Moore said. "We feel we had to do it."

Moore is aware of Rubin's contribution to Victoria through theatre, particularly with theatres downtown, and she feels that should not go unnoticed.

The night will feature a drawing for a LongLeaf and Movie gift card and an open mike for people wanting to share stories about Frels, his father's burger or the theatre, Moore said.

"That's exactly what Longleaf is about," Moore said. "Bringing people together to share moments they will always remember."